T he long pending demand of the Chorao villagers for a bridge seems to have no end with the United Citizens of Chorao ( UCC) accusing the BJP of failing to fulfill its promise. The BJP has stated that the bridge would be a reality in three to four years.
It may be recalled that the villagers from Chorao have a single demand -- a bridge from Chorao to Salvador de Mundo. The UCC has been persistently following the demand for the past many years. “ We have a single demand for a bridge as we face several problems since there is no land connectivity between Chorao and Salvador de Mundo. The villagers have to depend entirely on the ferry which is creating a problem,” UCC president Shrikrishna Haldankar stated. “ If this bridge is constructed it would help not only the people from Chorao but also from Bicholim and surrounding areas. The distance between Chorao and Panjim would be reduced to just about 15 minutes.” The Congress government had laid two foundation stones before the 2012 elections. The first was at Orando- Chodan then another at Divadi ferry point. Haldankar stated, “ the Mayem MLA has ignored our demands and since last four years has not done much with regards to the bridge.” “ If he was serious about it he should have followed up the process immediately after he was elected to power. We had invited him several times to discuss the matter but he never turned up,” Haldankar charged. When contacted the Mayem MLA and the speaker, Anant Shet, completely denied the charges and said that he has always followed up the process and it was because of technical difficulties that the construction of the bridge has been delayed. “ All the allegations are politically motivated and we are binding on constructing the bridge,” Shet stated. “ We have formed a committee consisting of 10 members to procure the land required for the approach road and bridge after obtaining consent from the owners. We have given them a time frame of till November, 30, 2016 to procure the land,” Shet disclosed. The BJP Spokesman in Mayem, Premanand Mahambre, said that the Chorao bridge would be a reality in next three years. “ The new Land Acquisition Act notified on 1/ 1/ 14 is very tedious and the procedure is very long. So to simplify and get land for development projects the Goa government has notified a policy on procurement of land by resorting to direct purchase of land from the owner/ tenants by paying the owner three times the cost of the land. The policy was notified on 30/ 5/ 2016,” Mahambre said. “ As soon as the policy was notified the Speaker ordered the acquiring department to move the proposal under the policy to procure land for Chodan bridge and approach road,” he added. Mayem MLA Anant Shet says technical difficulties have delayed the construction of the bridge We have a single demand for a bridge as we face several problems since there is no land connectivity between Chorao and Salvador de Mundo. The villagers have to depend entirely on the ferry which is creating a problem. If this bridge is constructed it would help not only the people from Chorao but also from Bicholim and surrounding areas. The distance between Chorao and Panjim would be reduced to just about 15 minutes - Shrikrishna Haldankar, UCC president I have always followed up the process and it was because of technical difficulties that the construction of the bridge has been delayed. All the allegations are politically motivated and we are binding on constructing the bridge. We have formed a committee consisting of 10 members to procure the land required for the approach road and bridge after obtaining consent from the owners. We have given them a time frame of till November, 30, 2016 to procure the land - Anant Shet, Mayem MLA, Goa Speaker. • Chodan was part of Cumbarjua constituency before 2012 Lok Sabha elections. • Before 2012 elections Congress laid two foundation stones, first at Orando- Chodan then at Divadi ferry point. • In 2002 the then CM Manohar Parrikar initiated steps to construct the bridge but it was opposed by some. • In 2012 the BJP promised the bridge in its manifesto. Promises for the bridge FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSE ONLY Residents of Chorao waiting to board the ferry to reach their destination. SAMIR UMARYE BICHOLIM
